What you learn as a volunteer

Reef rehabilitation volunteers

You will learn coral planting and growing. You will what causes corals to thrive and die. You will learn fish monitoring protocols. You will learn about the worldwide aquarium trade, how much the fisherfolk earn contrasted with how middlemen earn, and debate whether you should victimise the fishermen, if you can stop the trade or how best to regulate it. You will learn about what sustainability REALLY means in a holistic chain, it is not about stopping local communities from making a living, but how to do it in a sustainable way. More on this in the section of our science: Our Living Laboratory.

Teaching volunteers

You will learn a lot of Bahasa Indonesia in the process. People management skills will also develop as you deal with students from school age through to adults.

Do the volunteers need to do preparatory study?The reef rehabilitation volunteers will receive a coral and fish identification manual which will give more information on the fish monitoring in which they are participating. In addition, the volunteers will get classroom lessons on coral planting, fish survey, and practice runs in surveys where they are buddied by experienced fishermen “mentors”.

Villlage living

Most rewardingly, you will learn what living in a village in Indonesia is like. You will eat, sleep, work and play amongst a village of fisherfolk and farmers. You will share a communal area with the villagers during leisure hours, and our volunteers usually pick up simple Bahasa Indonesia while conversing with the villagers, who in turn pick up some English. You can learn salt making from the sea, Balinese cooking, weaving and dancing. You can learn to freedive with the village boys while they fish for their dinner. You will cultivate friendships and memories that will remain with you for life.